The Flour Sack

BY COLLEEN B. HUBERT
IN THAT LONG AGO TIME WHEN THINGS WERE SAVED,
WHEN ROADS WERE GRAVELED AND BARRELS WERE STAVED,

WHEN WORN-OUT CLOTHING WAS USED AS RAGS,
AND THERE WERE NO PLASTIC WRAP OR BAGS,
AND THE WELL AND THE PUMP WERE WAY OUT BACK,
A VERSATILE ITEM, WAS THE FLOUR SACK
.
PILLSBURY'S BEST, MOTHER'S AND GOLD MEDAL,TOO
STAMPED THEIR NAMES PROUDLY IN PURPLE AND BLUE

. THE STRING SEWN ON TOP WAS PULLED AND KEPT;
THE FLOUR EMPTIED AND SPILLS WERE SWEPT.

THE BAG WAS FOLDED AND STORED IN A SACK
THAT DURABLE, PRACTICAL FLOUR SACK.
THE SACK COULD BE FILLED WITH FEATHER AND DOWN,
FOR A PILLOW, OR T'WOULD MAKE A SLEEPING GOWN.
IT COULD CARRY A BOOK AND BE A SCHOOL BAG,
OR BECOME A MAIL SACK SLUNG OVER A NAG.

IT MADE A VERY CONVENIENT PACK,
THAT ADAPTABLE, COTTON FLOUR SACK
.
BLEACHED AND SEWN, IT WAS DUTIFULLY WORN
AS BIBS, DIAPERS, OR KERCHIEF ADORNED

. IT WAS MADE INTO SKIRTS, BLOUSES AND SLIPS
AND MOM BRAIDED RUGS FROM ONE HUNDRED STRIPS

. SHE MADE RUFFLED CURTAINS FOR THE HOUSE OR SHACK,
FROM THAT HUMBLE BUT TREASURED FLOUR SACK!

AS A STRAINER FOR MILK OR APPLE JUICE,
TO WAVE MEN IN, IT WAS A VERY GOOD USE,
AS A SLING FOR A SPRAINED WRIST OR A BREAK,
TO HELP MOTHER ROLL UP A JELLY CAKE,
AS A WINDOW SHADE OR TO STUFF A CRACK,
WE USED A STURDY, COMMOM FLOUR SACK!

AS DISH TOWELS, EMBROIDERED OR NOT,
THEY COVERED UP DOUGH, HELPED PASS PANS SO HOT,
TIED UP DISHES FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED,
AND FOR MEN OUT IN THE FIELD TO SEED.

THEY DRIED DISHES FROM PAN, NOT RACK
THAT ABSORBENT, HANDY FLOUR SACK!
WE POLISHED AND CLEANED STOVE AND TABLE,
SCOURED AND SCRUBBED FROM CELLAR TO GABLE,
WE DUSTED THE BUREAU AND OAK BED POST,
MADE COSTUMES FOR OCTOBER (A SCARY GHOST)

AND A PARACHUTE FOR A CAT NAMED JACK.
FROM THAT LOWLY, USEFUL OLD FLOUR SACK!
SO NOW MY FRIENDS, WHEN THEY ASK YOU
AS CURIOUS YOUNGSTERS OFTEN DO,
"BEFORE PLASTIC WRAP, ELMERS GLUE
AND PAPER TOWELS, WHAT DID YOU DO?"

TELL THEM LOUDLY AND WITH PRIDE DON'T LACK,
"GRANDMOTHER HAD THAT WONDERFUL FLOUR SACK!"

Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:16 am

That's great. I can remember when my mom would cut them in half, hem the edges, and use them for dish towels just like the poem says.

Gog

Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:21 am

I remember the dish towels and also remember mom making aprons etc. from them too. There were also feed sacks with print patterns on them. I remember being at the mill with dad and the guys asking if he wanted bags with the print or regular old burlap bags of feed supliment.

Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:30 pm

Guys I remember those well and have worn shirts made from flour sacks. When we went to buy flour, you needed to pick out the same design on the flour sack as the ones you had in order to get enough to make a shirt. My Mom was an excellent seamstress and not only made clothes for us, but for the public as well. Anything to supplement the family income.

I still have, rolled up in a Bruton snuff can, the ball of thread that my Grandmother unraveled from the flour and sugar cloth bags when opening the bags for use. Yep, those were the good old days. We actually visited more then, when we had to walk to go see relatives and friends, and by the light of a kerosene lantern at night to return home, than we do today with all the fancy cars and trucks.

Yep, those were the good ole days, and I don't wish to go back there except for the more closely knit families then than what we have today. Been there, done that and it was fun. Pete